Monmouthshire village phone box becomes information point

MONMOUTHSHIRE villagers have turned a disused red phone box into a tourist information point for visitors.

Five residents in Pen-y-Fan, near Trellech, got together to save the old phone box from being removed and converted it into an information point for those using the nearby Wye Valley Walk.

They adopted the iconic phone box from BT for £1 in May of last year after BT decided to remove or transfer ownership of many phones boxes in rural areas.

With the help of Trellech United Community Council it has been re-painted in traditional red with gold crowns, and now features a large ordnance survey map, local map to help visitors and deliveries, dispenser with leaflets on Wye Valley points of interest, and a board for local events and services.

Resident, Nick Brooks, who organised the refurbishment with John Lewis, Martin Parfett, Pete Walters and Rob Nelson, said: “We kept our plans for the phone box fairly simple to make sure its purpose was relevant.

"Being next to the Wye Valley Walk we hope it will be of help to the regular walkers with extra information, and at the same time will assist visitors and delivery drivers in finding the house they are looking for.”

“In all we think it is a great and relevant re-use of a de-commissioned phone box.”

He added: “We are very grateful to Trellech United Community Council which provided funds to help with the refurbishment.”

Monmouth MP, David Davies who officially opened the information point, said, “I’m delighted to support this community initiative to do something constructive with the good old fashioned British phone box.

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"Not only does it look impressive, it will no doubt bring tangible benefits to the tourism industry in Monmouthshire. “I would like to congratulate everyone involved with the refurbishment project and for their hard work in creating what I am sure will be an extremely helpful and well-used source of local information.”

l In 2011 villagers in Coed y Paen converted their phone box into an honesty library. Have you done anything like this? Let Kath Skellon know on 01633 777212.

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